Today, February 15, International Childhood Cancer Day, is dedicated to the long-term survivors of this disease. Early assessment and rehabilitation of impairments are essential to recovering affected abilities.
Around 80 new cases of childhood cancer are diagnosed each year at the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital in Seville, whose professionals focus not only on curing the disease, but also on increasing the patient's quality of life by minimizing its after-effects. The cure rate for childhood cancer has now reached 82%, thanks to the advances in diagnostic and therapeutic techniques introduced in recent years.
The specialists at the Pediatric Oncohematology Unit emphasize the importance of maintaining a long-term follow-up program. This allows for early detection of possible after-effects and promotes healthy lifestyle habits that minimize risk factors. With the increase in life expectancy in the child population diagnosed with cancer, important long-term side effects have been identified that significantly affect their quality of life: cognitive, physical, emotional and social effects.
Neurocognitive impairment can affect attention, memory, synthesis, spatial-visual ability and language. The specialists at the Seville hospital collaborate with charitable associations such as Andex, which represents parents of children with cancer in Andalusia, who today participated in the presentation of medals to people and institutions that improve the lives of children and their families.
The Radiotherapy Unit at the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital has been recognized for incorporating cutting-edge technology and for its humane treatment of patients and families. They also collaborate with the AEetc association, formed by parents of children with cancer, which helps to overcome the after-effects of oncological treatment. Its name reflects that after oncological treatment comes a long "ETC" (Effects of Cancer Treatment). Every year, the specialists of the Pediatric Oncohematology Unit attend more than 2,750 consultations and 750 admissions related to childhood cancer.
From THE SUN PLACES, we can do nothing but rejoice that professionals who are anonymous to the rest of the people but close to the patients and their families continue to help this disease stop being news and for this we give all our support, affection and love.